The GreenCarWebsite summarizes a survey by Ernst & Young of 300 European auto executives which concludes that Europe is set to become the first mass market for electric cars. However, there is a wide disagreement over how quickly this is likely to happen. 9% of respondents think that electric cars will enter the mass market by 2015, while 19% believe this will happen after 2025.

After Europe, those surveyed see China and Japan as the next mass markets for the EV.

80% of those surveyed expect to see the largest EV growth in the small car segment, indicating an increasing trend towards smaller and more fuel efficient cars.

The main barriers to the success of the electric car are those that have become recurring themes – mileage range, lack of EV infrastructure, cost, and practicality.

Some of the most significant challenges highlighted by the executives to explain the delay in adopting electric vehicles are “lack of range” (65 per cent), “lack of charging stations” (57 per cent) and the “excessive price” (55 per cent), as well as “unsuitability for day-to-day use” (30 per cent). The vast majority of respondents (91 per cent) also believed that government grants around the world are needed to help electric vehicles make a breakthrough.

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Peter Fuss, Ernst & Young’s European automotive partner said: “From the industry’s perspective, the biggest problem is still electric vehicles’ lack of range. Building up the infrastructure needed and the high price of the vehicles are also seen as significant challenges.”

In addition the current global economic situation is making consumers reluctant to spend money on large purchases.